Migrants deported from the UK to France under the government’s new “one-in, one-out” agreement were not given adequate access to translators, legal advice or
clear information about their future, according to an official inspection report released on Monday.
The findings relate to the scheme launched in July, which allows Britain to return migrants who arrive by small boat to France, while an equal number are permitted to enter the UK through a new legal route.
Inspectors examined a removal flight that took place in November, during which 20 migrants were sent back to France. Although a translator was provided, they spoke Arabic and French — languages that most of those on board did not understand, the UK prison inspectorate said in its first report on the programme.
While the migrants were aware they were being deported, many had no idea what would happen once they arrived in France. Inspectors said this uncertainty heightened anxiety among those removed.
Migrants were given contact details for law firms, but several reported that solicitors were unwilling to take on their cases. The report raised concerns that this left individuals without meaningful access to legal advice at a critical moment.
The UK government says the scheme is designed to deter people from attempting dangerous Channel crossings and to disrupt people-smuggling networks. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said last week that 305 people had been removed from Britain under the agreement, while 367 migrants had entered the UK through the new legal pathway.
However, rights organisations have criticised the policy, arguing it is arbitrary, lacks proper safeguards and fails to prioritise migrants’ welfare.
Last year, a group of experts — including seven UN Special Rapporteurs — urged the UK and French governments to end the scheme. In a joint letter, they warned it could lead to “serious violations of international human rights law” and expressed concern that potential victims of trafficking were not being properly identified.
Neither the UK Home Office nor the French Ministry of the Interior responded immediately to requests for comment. Photo by ukhomeoffice, Wikimedia commons.
